APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – To combat driver shortages, Valley Transit is announcing hiring bonuses of up to $5,000.
The public transportation service in the Fox Cities says its offering the sign-on bonus for applicants who already possess a commercial driver’s license.
“We’re looking at trying to find people who already have a CDL with passenger endorsement, and we’re hoping that this bonus will help attract some of those individuals and make it just much easier for them to go through our training, get on the road, and get ready to go,” said General Manager Ron McDonald. “It really works out into a savings for Valley Transit to offer this bonus, because we don’t have to train these individuals just to get their driver’s license. We do still offer training package, but to get the signing bonus, you have to have the CDL…For others who do not have the CDL, it takes an extensive amount of training to get them prepared to get their CDL.”
Those interested in becoming bus drivers are not required to have their CDL to apply but will need to be able to possess and maintain a Wisconsin Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with the passenger endorsement and a Federal Medical Card as a condition of employment.
After 30 years in the industry, McDonald calls this ‘new territory’ in recruiting drivers.
“We’re in the same position many other businesses are. There’s just not enough talent to go around, so we’re trying to find something that attracts them to us and makes them want to become a valuable team member,” McDonald told WTAQ News. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Gosh, I sure hope it goes away soon and we get back to some sort of normalcy.”
Earlier this year, Valley Transit also reduced some peak service hours. So instead of a bus coming every 30 minutes, it was cut down to 60 minute intervals.
“That’s certainly displaced some folks who are trying to get to work. They either have to make other arrangements or they have to catch a bus 30 minutes earlier in order to make their connections,” McDonald said.
Valley Transit says it has several full and part-time positions that need to be filled.
To learn more and apply, head to their website.
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